BLACKHAWKS BITS

Chicago Blackhawks Martin Havlat enjoying high-scoring season

Finally healthy, Hawks look to re-sign him

The veteran, beset with injuries during his first two seasons with the Blackhawks, played his 75th game this season Wednesday night when the Hawks took on the St. Louis Blues at the United Center.

Havlat was limited to 91 combined games the previous two seasons and had surgery on his right shoulder in March. He has missed just two games in 2008-09 and is the Hawks' leading scorer with 26 goals and 43 assists.

Those numbers and Havlat's sparkling defensive play have led to a plus-23 plus-minus rating and helped the 27-year-old to be named the Hawks' nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication.

"It has been a lot of fun on the ice and off the ice," said Havlat, who set a career high in points with an assist on Jonathan Toews' first-period goal."

Havlat will be an unrestricted free agent, but general manager Dale Tallon is scheduled to meet with his agent to continue negotiations for a possible return.

All shook up: Center Dave Bolland missed his first game with a right foot injury while winger Troy Brouwer (right knee) sat for the second consecutive game.

Coach Joel Quenneville was forced to reconfigure the lines. Toews and Patrick Kane were reunited with Havlat while Aaron Johnson, normally a defenseman, was on the wing with Adam Burish and center Colin Fraser. Ben Eager skated with Kris Versteeg on a line centered by Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien flanked Sammy Pahlsson.

One-timer: Legendary goaltender Glenn Hall, who couldn't attend the game because of his wife's health, was honored and Hall of Famer Tony Esposito dropped the ceremonial first puck to goalies Nikolai Khabibulin and the Blues' Chris Mason.